Chapter 3 Vocab

Question 1

Biosphere

Answer 1

Part of earth in which life exists including land, water, air, and atmosphere

Question 2

Species

Answer 2

Group of organisms close enough together to be able to breed and reproduce

Question 3

Populations

Answer 3

Groups of individuals belonging to the same species and living in the same area

Question 4

Community

Answer 4

Assemblages of different populations that live together in a refined area

Question 5

Ecosystem

Answer 5

Collection of all organisms that live in a particular place together with their environment

Question 6

Biome

Answer 6

Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities

Question 7

Biogeochemical cycles

Answer 7

Connect biological, geological, chemical aspects of the biosphere

Question 8

Evaporation

Answer 8

Process by which water changes from liquid to gas

Question 9

Transpiration

Answer 9

Water evaporates from leaves of plants

Question 10

Nutrient

Answer 10

All chemical substances an organism needs to sustain life

Question 11

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 11

Nitrogen gas converted to ammonia

Question 12

Denitrification

Answer 12

Soil bacteria convert nitrogen into gas

Question 13

Primary productivity

Answer 13

Rate organic matter is created by producers

Question 14

Limiting nutrient

Answer 14

Ecosystem is limited by a single nutrient that is scarce or cycles very slowly

Question 15

Algal bloom

Answer 15

Immediate increase in the amount of algae

Question 16

Autotrophs

Answer 16

Organisms that can capture energy from sunlight/chemicals and use it to make food

Question 17

Producers

Answer 17

Organisms that can capture energy from sunlight/chemicals and use it to produce food

Question 18

Photosynthesis

Answer 18

Autotrophs that use sun energy

Question 19

Chemosynthesis

Answer 19

Organisms that use chemical energy to create carbs

Question 20

Heterotrophs

Answer 20

Organisms that rely on other organisms for their food/energy supply

Question 21

Consumers

Answer 21

Organisms that rely on other organisms for food/energy supply

Question 22

Herbivore

Answer 22

Only eat plants

Question 23

Carnivore

Answer 23

Only eat meat

Question 24

Omnivore

Answer 24

Eat plants and animals

Question 25

Detritivores

Answer 25

Feed on plant/animal remains and dead matter

Question 26

Decomposers

Answer 26

Break down organic matter

Question 27

Food chain

Answer 27

Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy to other organisms by eating/being eaten

Question 28

Food web

Answer 28

Links food chains in an ecosystem

Question 29

Tropic level

Answer 29

Steps in food chain/web

Question 30

Ecological pyramid

Answer 30

Diagram that shows relative amounts of energy/matter contained within each tropic level in a food chain/web

Question 31

Biomass

Answer 31

Total amount of living tissue within a given tropic level

Question 32

Ecology

Answer 32

Study of interactions among/between organisms and their environment